WEBVTT 00:00:02.919 --> 00:00:04.820 to keep these fellows busy i thought we were 00:00:04.820 --> 00:00:06.299 going to have a couple of john's fingers left 00:00:06.299 --> 00:00:08.880 over here for a moment there got all ten of them 00:00:08.880 --> 00:00:14.220 excuse me eight of them all right thank you very 00:00:14.220 --> 00:00:17.600 much let's open the word of god together now 00:00:17.600 --> 00:00:22.980 to the second chapter of the gospel of luke we 00:00:22.980 --> 00:00:26.519 have here of course a story that is unique to 00:00:26.519 --> 00:00:30.339 the gospel of luke as is also the rest of the 00:00:30.339 --> 00:00:33.960 chapters one and two Only Luke records these 00:00:33.960 --> 00:00:37.939 things for us. I'm going to begin reading in 00:00:37.939 --> 00:00:41.719 verse 8. And in the same region there were some 00:00:41.719 --> 00:00:44.820 shepherds, staying out in the fields and keeping 00:00:44.820 --> 00:00:48.899 watch over their flock by night. And an angel 00:00:48.899 --> 00:00:51.740 of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the 00:00:51.740 --> 00:00:55.619 glory of the Lord shone round about them. They 00:00:55.619 --> 00:00:58.859 were terribly frightened. And the angel said 00:00:58.859 --> 00:01:03.070 to them, Do not be afraid. For behold, I bring 00:01:03.070 --> 00:01:06.129 you good news of a great joy which shall be for 00:01:06.129 --> 00:01:09.730 all the people. For today in the city of David 00:01:09.730 --> 00:01:13.969 there has been born for you a Savior, who is 00:01:13.969 --> 00:01:17.730 Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for 00:01:17.730 --> 00:01:21.829 you. You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and 00:01:21.829 --> 00:01:25.329 lying in a manger. And suddenly there appeared 00:01:25.329 --> 00:01:28.349 with the angel a multitude of the heavenly hosts, 00:01:28.549 --> 00:01:32.209 praising God and saying, Glory to God in the 00:01:32.209 --> 00:01:35.489 highest and on earth, peace among men with whom 00:01:35.489 --> 00:01:39.709 he is pleased. And it came about when the angels 00:01:39.709 --> 00:01:43.109 had gone away from them into heaven, that the 00:01:43.109 --> 00:01:46.209 shepherds began saying to one another, Let us 00:01:46.209 --> 00:01:48.909 go straight to Bethlehem then and see this thing 00:01:48.909 --> 00:01:51.370 that has happened, which the Lord has made known 00:01:51.370 --> 00:01:55.030 to us. And they came in haste and found their 00:01:55.030 --> 00:01:58.189 way to Mary and Joseph and the baby as he lay 00:01:58.189 --> 00:02:01.659 in the manger. And when they had seen this, they 00:02:01.659 --> 00:02:03.879 made known the statement which had been told 00:02:03.879 --> 00:02:07.500 them about this child. And all who heard it wondered 00:02:07.500 --> 00:02:10.439 at the things which were told them by the shepherds. 00:02:10.960 --> 00:02:15.139 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering 00:02:15.139 --> 00:02:19.139 them in her heart. And the shepherds went back, 00:02:19.139 --> 00:02:22.379 glorifying and praising God for all that they 00:02:22.379 --> 00:02:26.319 had heard and seen, just as had been told them. 00:02:28.620 --> 00:02:32.439 The shepherds in Palestine were the lowest rung 00:02:32.439 --> 00:02:36.460 on the ladder of society. In fact, shepherds 00:02:36.460 --> 00:02:39.819 were considered to be men of rather low reputation 00:02:39.819 --> 00:02:43.680 and suspicious character at that particular time. 00:02:44.860 --> 00:02:48.439 Work for them was considered by the Jewish leaders 00:02:48.439 --> 00:02:52.240 to be ceremonially unclean, and so they were 00:02:52.240 --> 00:02:57.199 not welcome guests in most places. We learn of 00:02:57.199 --> 00:03:00.419 these shepherds that they were in the same region. 00:03:01.139 --> 00:03:04.819 It is interesting to note that Luke carefully 00:03:04.819 --> 00:03:09.120 includes in his gospel geographical and historical 00:03:09.120 --> 00:03:13.520 detail that others seem not to desire to include. 00:03:14.219 --> 00:03:17.840 Here he uses a term that he uses more times than 00:03:17.840 --> 00:03:21.139 any other writer of scripture. In the same region. 00:03:21.460 --> 00:03:25.840 Literally it means a place in between. a space 00:03:25.840 --> 00:03:29.719 lying in between two other places. The idea is 00:03:29.719 --> 00:03:33.840 that this was a nearby place between Bethlehem 00:03:33.840 --> 00:03:37.840 and some other point of reference. The shepherds 00:03:37.840 --> 00:03:42.259 were staying out in their fields with the sheep. 00:03:42.939 --> 00:03:46.599 Literally, it meant to make the field one's courtyard. 00:03:46.800 --> 00:03:49.819 That's what the verb means here. And so it means 00:03:49.819 --> 00:03:52.680 that these men were used to living out. in the 00:03:52.680 --> 00:03:58.259 open air. These were rough and rugged men. It 00:03:58.259 --> 00:04:01.060 says, furthermore, they were keeping watch over 00:04:01.060 --> 00:04:03.939 their flocks, which tells us that they were guarding 00:04:03.939 --> 00:04:06.900 them, guarding them undoubtedly from predators 00:04:06.900 --> 00:04:12.120 and perhaps, too, from thieves. Now, considering 00:04:12.120 --> 00:04:14.819 the kind of men that these were, why is it that 00:04:14.819 --> 00:04:20.339 the angels gave the announcement to such men? 00:04:23.269 --> 00:04:25.870 In the first place, I believe it is because the 00:04:25.870 --> 00:04:31.170 gospel was presented first to social outcasts. 00:04:33.269 --> 00:04:37.189 These men represent the common and ordinary folks 00:04:37.189 --> 00:04:41.569 who, by and large, have been the ones to receive 00:04:41.569 --> 00:04:45.089 the gospel down through the years of the last 00:04:45.089 --> 00:04:50.699 two millennia. Furthermore, It is possible that 00:04:50.699 --> 00:04:54.100 these shepherds, because of where they were and 00:04:54.100 --> 00:04:58.100 the time of year that this likely was, it's possible 00:04:58.100 --> 00:05:02.060 that they were raising lambs which were to be 00:05:02.060 --> 00:05:05.120 slaughtered as a part of the sacrifice at the 00:05:05.120 --> 00:05:09.639 Passover within a few months. And so if these 00:05:09.639 --> 00:05:14.670 men were in fact watching Passover lambs, The 00:05:14.670 --> 00:05:17.550 announcement of the birth of Jesus Christ, God's 00:05:17.550 --> 00:05:20.629 Passover lamb, is all the more significant in 00:05:20.629 --> 00:05:27.949 being given to them. To this lot of men, a solitary 00:05:27.949 --> 00:05:32.790 angel suddenly appeared, and God's glory shone 00:05:32.790 --> 00:05:36.170 around them. This glory is that Shekinah glory 00:05:36.170 --> 00:05:40.829 of God. It is the glory of his presence. It is 00:05:40.829 --> 00:05:46.319 visible, radiated light. that comes from God. 00:05:47.480 --> 00:05:50.379 And the men were alarmed, it says. They reacted 00:05:50.379 --> 00:05:53.480 with great fear. These men this morning knew 00:05:53.480 --> 00:05:55.439 that light was going to turn on, thus they were 00:05:55.439 --> 00:05:58.279 rather calm as that light was turned on. But 00:05:58.279 --> 00:06:01.720 not so with those shepherds 2 ,000 years ago. 00:06:03.040 --> 00:06:06.879 It says they feared a great fear. They were absolutely 00:06:06.879 --> 00:06:10.680 terrified by what was taking place. And you can 00:06:10.680 --> 00:06:14.360 understand that. They reacted much the same that 00:06:14.360 --> 00:06:17.459 you would if suddenly you were caught up in a 00:06:17.459 --> 00:06:21.199 situation that was obviously supernatural as 00:06:21.199 --> 00:06:25.459 well as unexpected. But to them was given a word 00:06:25.459 --> 00:06:29.040 of assurance and then an explanation of what 00:06:29.040 --> 00:06:31.660 was taking place, an announcement of the birth 00:06:31.660 --> 00:06:37.819 of Christ the Lord. And then suddenly, with that 00:06:37.819 --> 00:06:41.160 solitary angel, there appeared a multitude of 00:06:41.160 --> 00:06:45.209 angels. And they began saying, now whether they 00:06:45.209 --> 00:06:49.009 actually sang these words or they merely said 00:06:49.009 --> 00:06:52.230 them as a large group, we do not have the ability 00:06:52.230 --> 00:06:56.050 to know. But what they sang or said is recorded 00:06:56.050 --> 00:07:01.230 for us. Glory to God in the highest. And on earth, 00:07:01.290 --> 00:07:06.910 peace among men with whom he is pleased. And 00:07:06.910 --> 00:07:12.110 then slowly, the angels withdrew. the verb says, 00:07:12.430 --> 00:07:17.050 into the realm of heaven, leaving the shepherds 00:07:17.050 --> 00:07:24.250 alone in the stillness of that dark night. Through 00:07:24.250 --> 00:07:26.389 this startling announcement which was given to 00:07:26.389 --> 00:07:29.910 them, the shepherds responded. And the response 00:07:29.910 --> 00:07:33.089 of the shepherds is the focus of our study this 00:07:33.089 --> 00:07:36.550 morning. If you think about it, the response 00:07:36.550 --> 00:07:41.149 of the shepherds parallels... That response should 00:07:41.149 --> 00:07:45.430 come from every person who hears the good news 00:07:45.430 --> 00:07:51.569 of Christ the Lord. In the first place, the shepherd's 00:07:51.569 --> 00:07:57.170 response was an obedient response. It did not 00:07:57.170 --> 00:08:01.930 have to be so. In fact, the responsibility to 00:08:01.930 --> 00:08:06.149 go and to see was only implied in what the angel 00:08:06.149 --> 00:08:09.610 said. There was no actual command. but they understood 00:08:09.610 --> 00:08:14.810 the announcement to be an implied command. And 00:08:14.810 --> 00:08:20.370 so they immediately went to see the child. This 00:08:20.370 --> 00:08:24.689 obedience, it seems to me, is parallel of New 00:08:24.689 --> 00:08:28.550 Testament faith, which is also, by the way, called 00:08:28.550 --> 00:08:33.750 obedience. Faith in the New Testament is called 00:08:33.750 --> 00:08:39.059 obedience, not as a work of human effort, or 00:08:39.059 --> 00:08:43.000 merit but rather as an appropriate and right 00:08:43.000 --> 00:08:47.559 response to the gospel turn over to the book 00:08:47.559 --> 00:08:50.899 of romans quickly and look with me at chapter 00:08:50.899 --> 00:08:54.000 one of romans of what the apostle paul writes 00:08:54.000 --> 00:08:59.799 he says paul a bond servant of jesus christ called 00:08:59.799 --> 00:09:03.120 as an apostle set apart for the gospel of god 00:09:03.120 --> 00:09:06.639 which he promised beforehand through his prophets 00:09:06.639 --> 00:09:11.610 in the holy scriptures concerning his son, who 00:09:11.610 --> 00:09:14.950 was born as a descendant of David, according 00:09:14.950 --> 00:09:17.529 to the flesh. That's what we're studying about 00:09:17.529 --> 00:09:20.850 here in the birth of Christ. Who was declared 00:09:20.850 --> 00:09:23.570 the Son of God with power by the resurrection 00:09:23.570 --> 00:09:26.590 from the dead, according to the spirit of holiness, 00:09:26.769 --> 00:09:30.549 Jesus Christ our Lord. Now notice verse 5. Through 00:09:30.549 --> 00:09:34.429 whom we have received grace and apostleship to 00:09:34.429 --> 00:09:40.139 bring about the obedience of faith. among all 00:09:40.139 --> 00:09:45.120 the Gentiles for his name's sake. Notice that 00:09:45.120 --> 00:09:50.980 he calls it here the obedience of faith. Turn 00:09:50.980 --> 00:09:53.559 again to the last chapter of the book of Romans, 00:09:53.679 --> 00:09:59.279 chapter 16. And look in verse 25. As he closes 00:09:59.279 --> 00:10:03.659 this writing, he says, Now to him who is able 00:10:03.659 --> 00:10:06.940 to establish you according to my gospel and the 00:10:06.940 --> 00:10:10.600 preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation 00:10:10.600 --> 00:10:13.759 of the mystery which has been kept secret for 00:10:13.759 --> 00:10:18.200 long ages past, but now is manifested, and by 00:10:18.200 --> 00:10:20.700 the scriptures of the prophets, according to 00:10:20.700 --> 00:10:23.559 the commandment of the eternal God, has been 00:10:23.559 --> 00:10:26.899 made known to all the nations, notice the last 00:10:26.899 --> 00:10:34.139 phrase, leading to obedience of faith. Now Peter 00:10:34.139 --> 00:10:37.000 joins with Paul in this same thought that faith 00:10:37.000 --> 00:10:41.460 is really obedience. He says, God has chosen 00:10:41.460 --> 00:10:46.460 you through the sanctification of the Spirit 00:10:46.460 --> 00:10:53.419 to obey the truth and to be sprinkled with the 00:10:53.419 --> 00:10:59.139 blood of Jesus Christ. Here's my point. The response 00:10:59.139 --> 00:11:03.860 of the shepherds was an obedient response. That 00:11:03.860 --> 00:11:07.759 is parallel to the response of every person who 00:11:07.759 --> 00:11:11.379 becomes a Christian. Because in becoming a Christian, 00:11:11.519 --> 00:11:17.940 we are actually obeying the gospel. It is an 00:11:17.940 --> 00:11:23.419 obedient response in faith. Paul says that, Peter 00:11:23.419 --> 00:11:26.700 says that, and Luke certainly implies it in what 00:11:26.700 --> 00:11:30.159 the shepherds did. Now here is my real point. 00:11:30.320 --> 00:11:34.659 It is this, that the gospel of Jesus Christ is 00:11:34.659 --> 00:11:39.529 not an option which can be considered. It is 00:11:39.529 --> 00:11:42.710 not merely an opportunity, for that matter, to 00:11:42.710 --> 00:11:47.309 see, but rather the gospel of Jesus Christ is 00:11:47.309 --> 00:11:54.049 an order which is to be obeyed. That is why in 00:11:54.049 --> 00:11:57.110 Acts chapter 16, in response to the question 00:11:57.110 --> 00:12:02.370 of the jailer, what must I do to be saved? Paul 00:12:02.370 --> 00:12:06.990 and Silas said to him, believe on the Lord Jesus 00:12:06.990 --> 00:12:12.409 Christ. and you shall be saved. That is not an 00:12:12.409 --> 00:12:17.549 option. That is not even an invitation. That 00:12:17.549 --> 00:12:22.509 is a command to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:12:22.870 --> 00:12:26.610 And it says that he did believe. And my friend, 00:12:26.610 --> 00:12:30.529 when he believed, he but obeyed the gospel. In 00:12:30.529 --> 00:12:32.950 the very next chapter, the apostle puts it differently 00:12:32.950 --> 00:12:36.710 as he speaks to the philosophers and intellectuals 00:12:36.710 --> 00:12:42.100 in Athens. He says, God has commanded all men 00:12:42.100 --> 00:12:47.360 everywhere to repent. That's the word that he 00:12:47.360 --> 00:12:50.740 uses there instead of the word to believe. Repentance 00:12:50.740 --> 00:12:55.419 is the other side of faith. One cannot savingly 00:12:55.419 --> 00:12:59.200 believe in Jesus Christ without repenting of 00:12:59.200 --> 00:13:04.639 sin, changing his mind about his sin, about what 00:13:04.639 --> 00:13:08.179 he's been trusting in, and turning to Christ. 00:13:09.419 --> 00:13:12.519 That is what the apostle emphasizes in Athens. 00:13:12.580 --> 00:13:16.159 He says, God has commanded all men everywhere 00:13:16.159 --> 00:13:23.159 to repent. Why? Because one day he is going to 00:13:23.159 --> 00:13:26.299 judge the world, a day which he has already appointed. 00:13:27.500 --> 00:13:30.059 And he says he has given assurance that he's 00:13:30.059 --> 00:13:33.379 done this by the resurrection of Jesus Christ 00:13:33.379 --> 00:13:38.299 from the dead. The proper response, my friend, 00:13:38.320 --> 00:13:41.299 to the gospel of Jesus Christ is the same response 00:13:41.299 --> 00:13:44.759 that the shepherds had. It is a response of obedience. 00:13:46.840 --> 00:13:55.159 It is believing. It is repenting. The gospel 00:13:55.159 --> 00:13:57.779 of Christ is an ultimatum, actually, which is 00:13:57.779 --> 00:14:02.080 delivered by a loving and holy God to a world 00:14:02.080 --> 00:14:05.720 of sinful people. You say an ultimatum? Yes. 00:14:06.570 --> 00:14:10.769 It is an ultimatum. That may be defined as any 00:14:10.769 --> 00:14:17.929 final proposal or statement of condition. The 00:14:17.929 --> 00:14:20.970 gospel of Jesus Christ, his death, burial, and 00:14:20.970 --> 00:14:24.529 resurrection from the dead, and the necessity 00:14:24.529 --> 00:14:28.389 of personal faith in Jesus Christ, my friend, 00:14:28.409 --> 00:14:31.750 that gospel is not just another religious message. 00:14:33.570 --> 00:14:41.169 That is God's last... declaration of terms. And 00:14:41.169 --> 00:14:47.370 if it is rejected, it results in judgment. Your 00:14:47.370 --> 00:14:50.429 hearing of the gospel of Jesus Christ is a command 00:14:50.429 --> 00:14:55.090 for you to respond. And I know that many of you 00:14:55.090 --> 00:14:59.090 have responded in trusting Jesus Christ, in believing 00:14:59.090 --> 00:15:03.669 on him. But the fact is that anyone who has ever 00:15:03.669 --> 00:15:09.200 heard the gospel has responded in one way or 00:15:09.200 --> 00:15:14.379 another. It may be an obedient response. Would 00:15:14.379 --> 00:15:16.539 the God it were always that case? It is not. 00:15:17.419 --> 00:15:21.159 There are those who choose to disobey the gospel. 00:15:21.799 --> 00:15:25.620 They will not believe. They will not repent. 00:15:28.460 --> 00:15:31.980 And the result is tragedy for them. You say, 00:15:32.019 --> 00:15:35.700 what do you mean? He reminds you of the words 00:15:35.700 --> 00:15:40.139 of Jesus himself in the third chapter of the 00:15:40.139 --> 00:15:44.539 Gospel of John. He said, He who believes the 00:15:44.539 --> 00:15:50.100 Son shall have everlasting life. But he who does 00:15:50.100 --> 00:15:54.080 not obey the Son. Notice there the parallel of 00:15:54.080 --> 00:15:57.879 those two words. He who does not obey the Son, 00:15:58.019 --> 00:16:03.100 he says, the wrath of God right now, presently. 00:16:03.360 --> 00:16:09.240 abides on him. And it is but the mercy and the 00:16:09.240 --> 00:16:11.759 grace of God that that wrath is not taken away 00:16:11.759 --> 00:16:16.320 to his deserved eternal punishment. But if there 00:16:16.320 --> 00:16:19.159 is not belief and retention, then one day it 00:16:19.159 --> 00:16:24.179 will. The wrath of God will not always be held 00:16:24.179 --> 00:16:30.460 back. The Apostle Paul warns about this in 2 00:16:30.460 --> 00:16:35.009 Thessalonians chapter 1. True, it is in the context 00:16:35.009 --> 00:16:41.850 of the last days. These are sobering words. In 00:16:41.850 --> 00:16:46.610 2 Thessalonians 1 and verse 6, he says, For after 00:16:46.610 --> 00:16:54.190 all, it is only just for God to repay with affliction 00:16:54.190 --> 00:16:59.870 those who afflict you and to give relief to you. 00:17:00.590 --> 00:17:04.710 who are afflicted, and to us as well, when the 00:17:04.710 --> 00:17:08.250 Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with 00:17:08.250 --> 00:17:12.890 his mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out 00:17:12.890 --> 00:17:18.690 retribution to those who do not know God and 00:17:18.690 --> 00:17:24.690 to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord 00:17:24.690 --> 00:17:29.849 Jesus. What is Paul saying by the Spirit here? 00:17:29.930 --> 00:17:33.549 He is warning. He is warning every person who 00:17:33.549 --> 00:17:36.470 does not know God, who will not obey the gospel 00:17:36.470 --> 00:17:40.450 of God, that one day the Lord Jesus will come 00:17:40.450 --> 00:17:45.630 and he will give retribution to every such one. 00:17:48.049 --> 00:17:51.230 That word retribution literally means out of 00:17:51.230 --> 00:17:56.710 justice. In other words, our Lord will give an... 00:17:56.829 --> 00:18:02.009 punishment now it's not going to be with vindictiveness 00:18:02.009 --> 00:18:08.009 it is not going to be with meanness that he will 00:18:08.009 --> 00:18:15.369 do so but with justice that's all unless there 00:18:15.369 --> 00:18:17.670 be any doubt as to what that means in verse 9 00:18:17.670 --> 00:18:20.670 he says and these will pay the penalty of eternal 00:18:20.670 --> 00:18:26.390 destruction Notice this is not annihilation, 00:18:26.430 --> 00:18:32.490 as though the wicked will simply somehow lose 00:18:32.490 --> 00:18:36.750 their existence as punishment. He talks here 00:18:36.750 --> 00:18:41.269 about eternal destruction, away from the presence 00:18:41.269 --> 00:18:45.269 of the Lord and from the glory of His power. 00:18:48.619 --> 00:18:50.960 Dear friend, if you are here today and you have 00:18:50.960 --> 00:18:55.079 not obeyed the gospel of Jesus Christ, do you 00:18:55.079 --> 00:19:03.519 understand the peril of your soul? Do you understand 00:19:03.519 --> 00:19:07.759 the alternative that you are selecting? You say, 00:19:07.839 --> 00:19:10.339 well, wait a minute, preacher. You're suggesting 00:19:10.339 --> 00:19:13.660 that somehow I've made a deliberate choice not 00:19:13.660 --> 00:19:16.720 to obey the gospel. And I haven't. I just haven't 00:19:16.720 --> 00:19:20.339 decided yet. Do you understand, though, my friend, 00:19:20.380 --> 00:19:24.880 that that indecision is itself a response? It 00:19:24.880 --> 00:19:36.119 is a delay. It is neglect. It's dangerous. The 00:19:36.119 --> 00:19:38.859 shepherds, when they heard the announcement of 00:19:38.859 --> 00:19:43.359 the gospel given by the angels, responded with 00:19:43.359 --> 00:19:47.400 an obedient response. And oh, may you do that 00:19:47.400 --> 00:19:51.279 today as well if you have not. May you today 00:19:51.279 --> 00:19:54.579 obey the gospel of Jesus Christ and submit yourself 00:19:54.579 --> 00:20:00.039 to him who came 2 ,000 years ago in the manger 00:20:00.039 --> 00:20:03.460 and who lived a perfect life that he might go 00:20:03.460 --> 00:20:06.160 to the cross and be a sin bearer, he sin bearer 00:20:06.160 --> 00:20:11.079 for you. Obey the gospel of Jesus Christ in responding 00:20:11.079 --> 00:20:15.789 this morning to the gospel. And then secondly, 00:20:15.869 --> 00:20:18.369 notice with me that the shepherds' response was 00:20:18.369 --> 00:20:24.029 an immediate response. Going back to Luke chapter 00:20:24.029 --> 00:20:39.349 2. Notice that it says that the angels went slowly 00:20:39.349 --> 00:20:43.250 back to heaven and the shepherds then began to 00:20:43.250 --> 00:20:47.240 converse. And here was their conversation. Let 00:20:47.240 --> 00:20:52.160 us go straight to Bethlehem then, in verse 16. 00:20:52.440 --> 00:20:57.559 And they came in haste. That word straight is 00:20:57.559 --> 00:21:01.259 an idiom from that day that has the force of 00:21:01.259 --> 00:21:05.519 urgency about it. That urgency is underscored 00:21:05.519 --> 00:21:09.339 by what is said then in verse 16. They knew that 00:21:09.339 --> 00:21:15.059 they dared not delay. What had been... commanded 00:21:15.059 --> 00:21:19.400 of them, demanded a response, an early response. 00:21:20.440 --> 00:21:24.759 This was an occasion of exigence. This was an 00:21:24.759 --> 00:21:28.380 unrepeatable opportunity, and they needed to 00:21:28.380 --> 00:21:35.599 act quickly. Not always do we need to act quickly. 00:21:37.000 --> 00:21:41.299 Obviously, if we are in danger, we act quickly. 00:21:42.920 --> 00:21:45.480 I was driving down the road the other day when 00:21:45.480 --> 00:21:48.259 this unlicensed driver undoubtedly pulled out 00:21:48.259 --> 00:21:51.220 right in front of me. And I had to react quickly. 00:21:52.440 --> 00:21:55.279 And I kept reacting for about 15 minutes after 00:21:55.279 --> 00:22:02.259 that. But I straightway reacted. In haste, I 00:22:02.259 --> 00:22:04.920 reacted. You know to do that when you're in danger, 00:22:04.940 --> 00:22:07.819 but not just when you're in danger. In times 00:22:07.819 --> 00:22:12.279 of great opportunity, we react quickly. A friend 00:22:12.279 --> 00:22:15.720 of ours, Bob Heinrich, who leads the Clean Up 00:22:15.720 --> 00:22:20.220 Minnesota project for the Berean League, got 00:22:20.220 --> 00:22:23.079 a phone call about three weeks ago on a Monday. 00:22:24.599 --> 00:22:28.140 And the phone call was from Washington. And the 00:22:28.140 --> 00:22:30.480 person said, we would like you to be here at 00:22:30.480 --> 00:22:32.799 2 .30 tomorrow afternoon to meet with President 00:22:32.799 --> 00:22:37.079 Reagan. Well, that was 2 .30 on Monday afternoon. 00:22:37.180 --> 00:22:39.839 He had to be there by 2 .30 on Tuesday afternoon. 00:22:40.680 --> 00:22:44.220 Let me tell you, he made hate. He had to get 00:22:44.220 --> 00:22:46.279 a ticket, he had to get to Washington, he had 00:22:46.279 --> 00:22:48.500 to get his clothes packed, make all kinds of 00:22:48.500 --> 00:22:50.859 preparations to be there for that meeting of 00:22:50.859 --> 00:22:52.920 those who were involved in the fight against 00:22:52.920 --> 00:22:57.119 pornography. He made hate. You see, there are 00:22:57.119 --> 00:22:59.900 times in our lives when we know it's right to 00:22:59.900 --> 00:23:03.180 make hate. May I tell you that with regard to 00:23:03.180 --> 00:23:09.190 salvation, it is a time for urgency. It is not 00:23:09.190 --> 00:23:12.950 a time for delay. It is not a time to wait and 00:23:12.950 --> 00:23:17.289 see. It is not a time for later, we'll take care 00:23:17.289 --> 00:23:24.690 of it. You say, why is that? At least for three 00:23:24.690 --> 00:23:31.670 reasons. In the first place, one soul is in perpetual 00:23:31.670 --> 00:23:36.619 peril until it is saved. We've already referred 00:23:36.619 --> 00:23:39.380 to the verse, John 3, 36, that warns that even 00:23:39.380 --> 00:23:43.059 right now the wrath of God rests upon those who 00:23:43.059 --> 00:23:47.700 are lost. Why is it urgent for one to respond 00:23:47.700 --> 00:23:50.960 to the gospel? Because at every moment until 00:23:50.960 --> 00:23:57.220 he does, his soul is in peril. In peril. In danger 00:23:57.220 --> 00:24:02.839 of hell. Secondly, it is urgent because one's 00:24:02.839 --> 00:24:07.210 heart. is in danger of hardness with each refusal. 00:24:08.950 --> 00:24:15.789 I think of Pharaoh, who was given a command through 00:24:15.789 --> 00:24:20.650 Moses, but from God, let my people go. He refused 00:24:20.650 --> 00:24:24.890 to do that and hardened his heart. And judicially, 00:24:24.950 --> 00:24:28.049 God hardened his heart more. And that process 00:24:28.049 --> 00:24:33.180 kept up as he would refuse. until his heart was 00:24:33.180 --> 00:24:38.380 hardened beyond any hope. So it is, my friends, 00:24:38.380 --> 00:24:42.539 the heart of the sinner who refuses, who waits, 00:24:42.640 --> 00:24:45.859 who delays, who turns away the Spirit of God. 00:24:47.220 --> 00:24:50.740 It is dangerous. It is urgent that one respond 00:24:50.740 --> 00:24:54.119 because the heart is in danger of becoming hardened. 00:24:54.660 --> 00:24:59.440 And a third reason is because one's life is not 00:24:59.440 --> 00:25:04.559 guaranteed. There is not one of us who is guaranteed 00:25:04.559 --> 00:25:09.759 of being here tomorrow, are we? If you had said 00:25:09.759 --> 00:25:14.039 to Mayor Washington in Chicago that by today 00:25:14.039 --> 00:25:15.740 he would have already been in the grave several 00:25:15.740 --> 00:25:18.140 days, if you had said that two weeks ago, he 00:25:18.140 --> 00:25:21.000 might have stopped at you. Because none of us 00:25:21.000 --> 00:25:30.019 really believe how tenuous life is. That it's 00:25:30.019 --> 00:25:35.519 only one breath. at a time. And at any moment, 00:25:35.640 --> 00:25:40.420 the heart can stop. I was reminded of that in 00:25:40.420 --> 00:25:43.380 my own mother's death this last summer. And as 00:25:43.380 --> 00:25:46.480 a result of what she experienced and some others 00:25:46.480 --> 00:25:48.559 in our family have experienced, I decided to 00:25:48.559 --> 00:25:53.720 have my own heart checked out this fall. And 00:25:53.720 --> 00:25:57.680 I was sent down for a stress test at one of our 00:25:57.680 --> 00:26:01.140 local hospitals. I don't know if you've ever 00:26:01.140 --> 00:26:02.839 been through that. That's an interesting experience. 00:26:03.740 --> 00:26:06.180 When they call it stress test, that's exactly 00:26:06.180 --> 00:26:09.380 what it is. They intend to stress you to the 00:26:09.380 --> 00:26:13.039 point that your heart really can't take anymore. 00:26:13.200 --> 00:26:16.480 They don't do it so it's dangerous for you, hopefully. 00:26:17.720 --> 00:26:21.720 But they stress you as much as you can take because 00:26:21.720 --> 00:26:24.359 they want to see what kind of cardiac condition 00:26:24.359 --> 00:26:28.859 you're in. I got up about the nine -minute point. 00:26:30.000 --> 00:26:32.059 And the doctor's over here looking at all of 00:26:32.059 --> 00:26:35.079 this equipment that looks like I was going to 00:26:35.079 --> 00:26:41.259 the moon. And he says, what was that? And here 00:26:41.259 --> 00:26:45.359 I am camping for all my life, you know, running 00:26:45.359 --> 00:26:48.740 on this treadmill uphill. And he says, what was 00:26:48.740 --> 00:26:50.720 that? And I'm supposed to answer him coherently. 00:26:52.299 --> 00:26:54.240 That's like the dentist who gets all that stuff 00:26:54.240 --> 00:26:56.140 in your mouth and then starts talking to you, 00:26:56.200 --> 00:26:59.180 asking you questions, right? I said, what was 00:26:59.180 --> 00:27:02.980 what? He said, what did you feel? I said, I don't 00:27:02.980 --> 00:27:05.779 know. Maybe my heart skipped. He said, yeah, 00:27:05.799 --> 00:27:10.160 that's right. And so we eventually got off the 00:27:10.160 --> 00:27:14.420 thing. And I sat down to cool off. And he began 00:27:14.420 --> 00:27:16.519 to watch the machine more. And as a result of 00:27:16.519 --> 00:27:18.940 what he saw there, he thought I could have some 00:27:18.940 --> 00:27:23.400 more tests. So I did. And I'm glad to report 00:27:23.400 --> 00:27:26.000 to you that I had just a minor problem with the 00:27:26.000 --> 00:27:29.430 congenital. and is not life -threatening, and 00:27:29.430 --> 00:27:31.029 I praise the Lord for that. But I'll tell you 00:27:31.029 --> 00:27:33.009 what, I took those tests back the first part 00:27:33.009 --> 00:27:35.410 of November. I didn't find out the result of 00:27:35.410 --> 00:27:38.789 them until December the 3rd. A long month, my 00:27:38.789 --> 00:27:42.670 friend. And during that month, while it didn't 00:27:42.670 --> 00:27:46.829 just really grind on me, I was reminded of my 00:27:46.829 --> 00:27:51.009 heart on a number of occasions. And every time 00:27:51.009 --> 00:27:54.549 I had a little twin here, a little gas pain. 00:27:55.130 --> 00:27:56.609 You know, I thought it may be a heart attack 00:27:56.609 --> 00:28:01.690 coming on. Whenever I would feel something going 00:28:01.690 --> 00:28:06.930 on in my chest, I wondered, what is this? For 00:28:06.930 --> 00:28:09.349 that month, I was reminded more than I ever have 00:28:09.349 --> 00:28:14.630 in my life that life is just a heartbeat at a 00:28:14.630 --> 00:28:17.869 time. Now there's 100 ,000 of them every day 00:28:17.869 --> 00:28:21.349 in the average heart. It's just a heartbeat at 00:28:21.349 --> 00:28:25.140 a time. And when it stops, that's it. Here's 00:28:25.140 --> 00:28:29.960 my point. The response to the gospel of Jesus 00:28:29.960 --> 00:28:36.079 Christ needs to be an immediate response. By 00:28:36.079 --> 00:28:37.859 that, I am not saying it should be premature. 00:28:39.400 --> 00:28:42.460 I'm not saying it should be coerced by someone 00:28:42.460 --> 00:28:45.299 else. But I am saying if you understand your 00:28:45.299 --> 00:28:49.039 need of Jesus Christ as Savior, you dare not 00:28:49.039 --> 00:28:51.400 delay, but like those shepherds, you had better 00:28:51.400 --> 00:28:54.450 straightway. You had better with faith come to 00:28:54.450 --> 00:29:00.049 the cross and trust him. If the Holy Spirit is 00:29:00.049 --> 00:29:03.890 dealing with you today, please, please do not 00:29:03.890 --> 00:29:08.710 delay a day longer. For the word of God says, 00:29:08.789 --> 00:29:12.549 how shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation? 00:29:14.089 --> 00:29:18.690 Don't neglect it. And then finally, the shepherd's 00:29:18.690 --> 00:29:22.710 response was an innovative response. By that 00:29:22.710 --> 00:29:25.130 I mean it produced a change in their lives. They 00:29:25.130 --> 00:29:29.230 were different men as a result of what they experienced. 00:29:30.210 --> 00:29:32.569 In the first place, notice that their tongues 00:29:32.569 --> 00:29:36.670 were employed with a new method. I don't know 00:29:36.670 --> 00:29:39.930 what they talked like before, but I can almost 00:29:39.930 --> 00:29:44.609 imagine, can't you? Here were rough men who were 00:29:44.609 --> 00:29:47.049 used to living out of doors, working with animals 00:29:47.049 --> 00:29:51.680 all their lives. It does not take a great imagination 00:29:51.680 --> 00:29:56.759 to suppose that these were rather coarse, crude, 00:29:56.940 --> 00:30:01.180 perhaps even vulgar men. They were certainly 00:30:01.180 --> 00:30:06.680 earthy. And yet as a result of this experience, 00:30:06.859 --> 00:30:11.539 they now had a heavenly message on their tongues. 00:30:12.380 --> 00:30:15.519 For it says in verse 11 that they repeated the 00:30:15.519 --> 00:30:18.980 announcement of the angels. Excuse me, verse 00:30:18.980 --> 00:30:22.759 17 says that they repeated the statement that 00:30:22.759 --> 00:30:25.440 had been told them about the child in verse 11. 00:30:26.599 --> 00:30:30.400 So they had a new message on their tongue. That 00:30:30.400 --> 00:30:34.799 was one response. Secondly, notice that their 00:30:34.799 --> 00:30:40.059 routine was resumed with a new awareness. It 00:30:40.059 --> 00:30:42.740 does say here that they went back to the field. 00:30:43.980 --> 00:30:47.940 That was God's plan for them. They had to take 00:30:47.940 --> 00:30:50.279 up their responsibilities where they had left 00:30:50.279 --> 00:30:53.660 off. The flock had to be cared for. But they 00:30:53.660 --> 00:30:57.940 went back different. Their routine was resumed 00:30:57.940 --> 00:31:01.000 with a new awareness. For now, suddenly, they 00:31:01.000 --> 00:31:06.359 were aware of Emmanuel. God is with us. And not 00:31:06.359 --> 00:31:10.440 only in a baby, in a manger, with Christ the 00:31:10.440 --> 00:31:13.599 Lord, but they were aware that at any moment... 00:31:14.119 --> 00:31:16.680 One of God's emissaries could step through the 00:31:16.680 --> 00:31:19.700 veil and appear in their presence, and the glory 00:31:19.700 --> 00:31:24.259 of God's Shekinah could be there with them. So 00:31:24.259 --> 00:31:28.000 here you see that they went back to their fields 00:31:28.000 --> 00:31:32.799 with a new awareness of God. They couldn't stay 00:31:32.799 --> 00:31:36.339 at the manger. You know, sometimes those who 00:31:36.339 --> 00:31:38.880 are newly converted wish that somehow they could 00:31:38.880 --> 00:31:42.619 just keep having that same fresh excitement. 00:31:43.519 --> 00:31:46.579 that new experience as when they were first saved. 00:31:48.619 --> 00:31:50.559 It's sort of like the shepherds wishing they 00:31:50.559 --> 00:31:52.559 could stay right there at the manger scene, but 00:31:52.559 --> 00:31:55.140 my friend, God's plan for us is to get back to 00:31:55.140 --> 00:31:57.339 the routine of life. Life is mostly routine. 00:31:59.079 --> 00:32:03.700 Life is mostly that way. But the fact is that 00:32:03.700 --> 00:32:06.180 we go back to our routine after conversion with 00:32:06.180 --> 00:32:09.059 a new awareness of the presence of God, and it 00:32:09.059 --> 00:32:13.180 changes the routine. Nothing can ever be the 00:32:13.180 --> 00:32:16.059 same again because of the presence of the Lord. 00:32:18.720 --> 00:32:21.000 And then I noticed thirdly that their hearts 00:32:21.000 --> 00:32:24.539 were filled with a new joy. Notice that they 00:32:24.539 --> 00:32:27.839 went back rejoicing, glorifying, praising God. 00:32:29.279 --> 00:32:32.220 They were filled with joy that the Savior had 00:32:32.220 --> 00:32:35.960 been born. They were filled with joy that they 00:32:35.960 --> 00:32:41.009 had received this word from God. And it suggests 00:32:41.009 --> 00:32:44.170 in verse 20 likewise that they were filled with 00:32:44.170 --> 00:32:48.029 joy that God had fulfilled his promise to his 00:32:48.029 --> 00:32:51.890 people. My friend, can your heart rejoice in 00:32:51.890 --> 00:32:56.009 those same truths today? Christmas can sometimes 00:32:56.009 --> 00:33:01.769 be a hard season. As I suggested in the newsletter 00:33:01.769 --> 00:33:04.970 today in my letter to you, it can be filled with 00:33:04.970 --> 00:33:10.599 melancholy, with nostalgia. For some, Christmas 00:33:10.599 --> 00:33:13.920 is a very lonely time, even though there may 00:33:13.920 --> 00:33:21.019 be a crowd of people around. More people end 00:33:21.019 --> 00:33:23.559 their lives at this time of the year than any 00:33:23.559 --> 00:33:31.359 other time. The one who has trusted Jesus Christ, 00:33:31.480 --> 00:33:35.180 who has obeyed the gospel, is one who can have 00:33:35.180 --> 00:33:39.849 a heart filled with joy. Joy that the Savior 00:33:39.849 --> 00:33:43.509 has been born. Joy that he has learned that because, 00:33:43.609 --> 00:33:47.029 my friend, there are multiplied millions in the 00:33:47.029 --> 00:33:50.769 world who have never heard that yet. We can rejoice 00:33:50.769 --> 00:33:53.130 that we have heard it, that we've been led by 00:33:53.130 --> 00:33:57.589 grace to believe it and been saved. We can rejoice 00:33:57.589 --> 00:34:00.569 that God has fulfilled his promise to save us 00:34:00.569 --> 00:34:04.069 from our sins and to give us an eternal hope 00:34:04.069 --> 00:34:08.420 in Jesus Christ. There is great reason for joy 00:34:08.420 --> 00:34:14.280 at this time of year. Shepherds responded with 00:34:14.280 --> 00:34:17.699 an innovative response. Their tongues were employed 00:34:17.699 --> 00:34:21.920 with a new message. Their routine was resumed 00:34:21.920 --> 00:34:25.079 with a new awareness. Their hearts were filled 00:34:25.079 --> 00:34:29.199 with a new joy. These were different men than 00:34:29.199 --> 00:34:33.559 they had been hours before. Such as always. Always 00:34:33.559 --> 00:34:35.820 the overflow of the heart that has responded 00:34:35.820 --> 00:34:40.079 obediently to the gospel of Christ. We used to 00:34:40.079 --> 00:34:43.340 sing a chorus that said, if you want joy, real 00:34:43.340 --> 00:34:48.480 joy, wonderful joy, what? Well, you know it well 00:34:48.480 --> 00:34:51.719 enough, let's sing it. Can we do that? If you 00:34:51.719 --> 00:34:53.119 don't know it, you'll pick it up real quick. 00:34:53.440 --> 00:34:57.280 And I will not be singing a solo. You understand 00:34:57.280 --> 00:35:00.079 that? Okay. As long as you understand that, I'll 00:35:00.079 --> 00:35:02.679 take the microphone off in a minute. Let's sing 00:35:02.679 --> 00:35:09.579 it together. If you want joy, real joy, wonderful 00:35:09.579 --> 00:35:20.320 joy, let Jesus come into your heart. Repeat it 00:35:20.320 --> 00:35:28.559 again. If you want joy, real joy, wonderful joy, 00:36:22.599 --> 00:36:25.800 You can tell who's been to YFC. Remember singing 00:36:25.800 --> 00:36:29.280 that in the rally? My friend, this is true today 00:36:29.280 --> 00:36:32.739 as it was 25 or 30 years ago when I first sang 00:36:32.739 --> 00:36:36.119 that. If you want the joy of God in your heart, 00:36:36.139 --> 00:36:39.539 it's through the gospel of Jesus Christ. The 00:36:39.539 --> 00:36:41.519 angel said, Glory to God in the highest, peace 00:36:41.519 --> 00:36:45.139 on earth. To those with whom God is pleased, 00:36:45.539 --> 00:36:48.059 who are those? Those who have obeyed the gospel. 00:36:48.860 --> 00:36:53.219 Do you want peace today? I'm talking to someone 00:36:53.219 --> 00:36:58.960 here whose life is an absolute wreck. My friend, 00:36:59.000 --> 00:37:01.019 the answer for you is in the gospel of Jesus 00:37:01.019 --> 00:37:05.440 Christ. It's in coming to know him. Will you 00:37:05.440 --> 00:37:08.940 obey that gospel today? You know, in the time 00:37:08.940 --> 00:37:10.940 of Jesus, there was a certain kind of peace. 00:37:11.019 --> 00:37:14.940 It was called a Pax Romana. It was a Roman peace 00:37:14.940 --> 00:37:19.440 which was enforced by the sword. One of the Roman... 00:37:20.059 --> 00:37:22.619 Thinkers of the first century Epictetus said, 00:37:22.780 --> 00:37:26.599 while the emperor may give peace from war on 00:37:26.599 --> 00:37:32.860 land and sea, he is unable to give peace from 00:37:32.860 --> 00:37:38.800 passion, grief, and envy. He cannot give peace 00:37:38.800 --> 00:37:42.099 of heart for which man yearns more than even 00:37:42.099 --> 00:37:46.920 for outward peace. This week in Washington, D 00:37:46.920 --> 00:37:49.840 .C., the world's... Two greatest leaders are 00:37:49.840 --> 00:37:53.340 going to meet to try to take some steps toward 00:37:53.340 --> 00:37:58.400 peace. I wish them well. But if they accomplish 00:37:58.400 --> 00:38:00.599 everything they hope to accomplish this week, 00:38:00.780 --> 00:38:06.539 they can never bring peace to your heart. Peace 00:38:06.539 --> 00:38:10.460 from your grief. Peace from your passion. Peace 00:38:10.460 --> 00:38:15.500 from your guilt. But Jesus Christ can. And he 00:38:15.500 --> 00:38:20.460 will. If you'll obey him and believe on him. 00:38:21.579 --> 00:38:28.260 Let's bow again. My friend, as you sit there, 00:38:28.460 --> 00:38:33.960 as I stand here, let's realize that we cannot 00:38:33.960 --> 00:38:37.280 be exposed to the gospel of Jesus Christ and 00:38:37.280 --> 00:38:45.139 not respond. We must respond in some way. Had 00:38:45.139 --> 00:38:47.480 the shepherds done nothing, That would have been 00:38:47.480 --> 00:38:54.480 a response. A sad one, but a response. Will you 00:38:54.480 --> 00:38:56.639 right now at this moment place your faith in 00:38:56.639 --> 00:39:04.320 Jesus Christ? Will you receive him to save you 00:39:04.320 --> 00:39:09.480 from your sins? Will you invite him to come into 00:39:09.480 --> 00:39:16.059 your life? There are no magic words for you. 00:39:16.320 --> 00:39:21.820 God knows your heart. Will you do it? Will you 00:39:21.820 --> 00:39:27.980 say yes or no right now to Jesus Christ? I beg 00:39:27.980 --> 00:39:34.619 of you, say yes. And my friend, if that is your 00:39:34.619 --> 00:39:39.380 heart's decision, and if in this service at this 00:39:39.380 --> 00:39:45.730 time you have said yes to Jesus Christ, And you 00:39:45.730 --> 00:39:50.829 have believed on him for the salvation of your 00:39:50.829 --> 00:39:55.349 soul. I'd like you to publicly imitate that right 00:39:55.349 --> 00:39:58.090 now, at least to me, by lifting your hand and 00:39:58.090 --> 00:40:00.969 putting it down. I'm not going to embarrass you. 00:40:01.889 --> 00:40:04.610 We're not even going to have a public come forward 00:40:04.610 --> 00:40:08.429 kind of invitation today. But I would like to 00:40:08.429 --> 00:40:12.550 know that you've made that decision. Would you 00:40:12.550 --> 00:40:15.420 lift your hand and put it down? Are you sure 00:40:15.420 --> 00:40:17.860 that I see? God bless you. I see your hand. Two, 00:40:18.059 --> 00:40:25.519 three, four, five. Over here, yes, my left. Thank 00:40:25.519 --> 00:40:32.420 you. Anyone else? Now, I realize it's a very 00:40:32.420 --> 00:40:34.619 personal and private thing, and yet it's one 00:40:34.619 --> 00:40:37.619 that all can rejoice in with you. I hope you 00:40:37.619 --> 00:40:40.079 will share it with someone, your husband, your 00:40:40.079 --> 00:40:43.840 wife, a friend. But I'm going to ask you to do 00:40:43.840 --> 00:40:48.750 this. to share it with me by writing me a letter 00:40:48.750 --> 00:40:51.690 this afternoon or tomorrow and dropping it in 00:40:51.690 --> 00:40:54.110 the mail to me at the church office, letting 00:40:54.110 --> 00:40:57.289 me know what you've done today, giving me your 00:40:57.289 --> 00:41:00.150 name and address so that I can send you some 00:41:00.150 --> 00:41:06.250 helpful information. Father, thank you for working 00:41:06.250 --> 00:41:08.389 in this congregation this morning in the hearts 00:41:08.389 --> 00:41:11.449 of all of us, and I pray that we will be like 00:41:11.449 --> 00:41:15.219 the shepherds in our response. Oh God, whatever 00:41:15.219 --> 00:41:20.500 you tell us. May our response be obedient. May 00:41:20.500 --> 00:41:25.239 it be an immediate response. Make us different 00:41:25.239 --> 00:41:29.019 as a result of our continual yieldedness to your 00:41:29.019 --> 00:41:34.940 lordship in our lives. In Jesus' name, amen.